DRUG REVOLVING FUND: REVIVING COMMUNITY ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE TO CREATE SELF-SUSTAINING PRIMARY HEALTHCARE FACILITIES IN NIGERIA

For Nigeria as a nation to achieve universal health coverage for its citizens depends mainly on the foundational role of primary healthcare (PHC) services within the healthcare sector. By prioritising the citizens’ actual medical requirements and choices among the population, the PHC healthcare model enables effective and accessible delivery in most developing countries. In developing nations like Nigeria, persistent issues such as insufficient funding, resource mismanagement, and weak oversight frequently interrupt the efficiency of the healthcare sector. In developing nations like Nigeria, persistent issues such as insufficient funding, resource mismanagement, and weak oversight frequently interrupt the efficiency of the healthcare sector. To mitigate these financial challenges and ensure the consistent availability of vital drugs, the Drug Revolving Fund (DRF) was introduced as a self-reliance health financing policy for health facilities. Furthermore, The Ward Development Committee (WDC) coordinates the steps needed to mobilize human, material resources, and finances in the community to support the PHC. The overall service quality can be easily improved by involving the community and having them take ownership of the PHC. However, the lack of a functional WDC system in most Nigerian communities has negatively impacted the functionality of the PHC due to poor community involvement. In this study, we highlighted the DRF implementations and the bottlenecks across healthcare facilities and how reviving a WDC system can help strengthen healthcare access at the primary care level.